Creamy Cottage Cheese Orzo (High Protein & Easy One-Pot Meal)
Creamy, tangy, and protein-packed—this one-pot Cottage Cheese Orzo is the ultimate comfort food with a healthy twist. Ready in under 30 minutes, it’s rich in flavor, loaded with cheese, and perfect for a satisfying lunch or dinner.
- Prep Time: 5 minutes
- Cook Time: 15 minutes
- Total Time: 20 minutes
- Yield: 4 1x
Ingredients
2 cups dry orzo pasta
2 cups full-fat cottage cheese
1 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese
2 garlic cloves, minced
2 tbsp olive oil
1 tsp lemon zest
2 tbsp fresh lemon juice
2 tsp Dijon mustard
½ tsp crushed red pepper flakes (optional)
½ tsp ground black pepper
½ tsp fine sea salt (plus more for pasta water)
1 cup reserved pasta water (as needed)
¼ cup chopped fresh basil or parsley (optional, for garnish)
Instructions
Cook orzo in salted water according to package directions. Reserve 1 cup of pasta water, then drain and set orzo aside.
In the same pot, heat olive oil over medium heat. Add garlic and sauté for 1 minute until fragrant.
Stir in cottage cheese, Parmesan, lemon zest, lemon juice, Dijon, red pepper flakes, black pepper, and salt. Mix until smooth and creamy.
Add cooked orzo back to the pot and stir to coat. Add reserved pasta water, a little at a time, until desired creaminess is reached.
Cook for another 2–3 minutes to heat through.
Garnish with chopped basil or parsley and serve warm.
Nutrition
- Calories: 410
- Fat: 22g
- Carbohydrates: 30g
- Protein: 25g